US2991586A - Spinning toy - Google Patents

Description

' July 11, 1961 w. D. COBB 2,991,586

SPINNING TOY Filed 060. 17, 1958 INVENTOR. h flbu/"n Dowel/Cobb flTmA /VEX United States Patent 2,991,586 SPINNING TOY Wilburn Dowell Cobb, 569 Capp St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Oct. '17, 1958, Ser. No.v 767,831 '3 Claims. (Cl. 46- 63) The present invention relates to toys of the type designed to be spun or whirled in mid-air, and, more particularly, to devices for producing audible sounds as thening, it has value as an exercise device in addition to the entertainment it affords.

The entertaining aspect may be enhanced bythe provision of sounding devices which make a noise as the toy revolves.

The present invention contemplates a spinning-toy constructed to produce a unique sound, which may be controlled as to pitch, and which at the same time provides a novel fanning action to increase the enjoyment of the operator.

It is therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a toy which may be kept in constant reciprocal spinning motion and which will produce a novel humming or singing tone, the pitch of which may be varied to suit the taste of the person playing with the toy.

Another object of the present invention is the provision, in a toy of the character described, of a sounding device which utilizes the spin of the toy to create air currents which cooperate with the form of the device to impart a unique quality to the sound produced.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sounding device of the character described which will throw a strong current of air radially of the device to create a tanning action upon the face and torso of the user.

Other objects and features of advantage of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the new and useful features of the same will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred formof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a spinning toy constructed in accordance with the present invention. and showing the manner in which the toy is operated;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the spinning portion of the toy of FIG- GURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my spinning toy 6 includes a disk-shaped member or body 7, means 8 for spinning the body around its axis of revolution, and a resilient membrane 9 mounted in radially spaced relation to the rim of body 7, the membrane being parallel to the axis of the body and tangent to the path of rotation for producing an audible tone as the toy revolves.

The means 8 for spinning the toy includes an. endless 1 loop, the opposite strands 11 and 12 of of which pass through holes 13 and 14 formed parallel to and equidistant -from the axis 16 of the body 7.

When the strands 11 and 12 are intertwined as shown in the drawing, a strong outward pull on the outer extremities. of the loop will cause them to unwind and spin the body 7. Repetition of this action serves to keep the toy spinning alternately forward andbackward.

Suitable handles 17 and 18 may be inserted at the outer extremities of the loop to protect the hands of the operator.

The membrane means 9 may consist of any suitable flexible or resilient material which will flutter and vibrate in its passage through the air to produce audible tones.

Preferably, the membrane is in the form of a narrow, elongated ribbon mounted edgewise to its rotary course. It has been found that ordinary rubber bands to possess the requisite characteristics.

As here shown, the rubber bands 9 are mounted upon.

pairs of posts 19 and 21 mounted in circumferentially balanced relation around the rim. of the body 7, four pairs of posts being illustrated. More or less posts may be provided, but they should preferably be spaced evenly around the periphery so the toy will spin without wobbling.

The posts 19 and 21 are positioned to provide a relatively wide span for the ribbons 9, that is, a span wider than the width of the body 7. For this purpose the posts are mounted to slant sidewise with respect to the body 7 in opposite directions, as may be seen in FIGURE 3.

The posts 19 and 21 may be of anysuitable configuration, but preferably have their outer tips somewhat larger than the shank for purposes to be discussed. Common small eye bolts are satisfactory for this purpose, .the threaded end being screwed into the body: 7 which may.-

be made of wood or the like.

In accordance with the present invention, the tension on the ribbons 9 stretched between the posts 19 and 21 may be varied to increase or decrease the vibratory rate and hence raise or lower the pitch of the tone produced. This is accomplished by passing the ribbon over the enlarged tips of the posts and securing the ribbon ends to the shanks of the posts by rubber bands 22 tied tightly around the posts and ribbon end.

The bands 22. will hold the ribbons in place, but pulling on either ribbon end will force the ribbon through the band and make it more taut. The elasticity and friction characteristics of the rubber bands and ribbons, plus the enlarged tips of the posts, will then hold the ribbon in place under the increased tension.

As an important feature of the present invention, a central peripheral groove 23 is provided inthe body 7. This groove cooperates with the form and location of the ribbons 9 to create the unique sound as the toy revolves.

The spinning motion of the toy tends to draw air in from the sides and eject it radially outwardly in the manner indicated by the arows in FIGURES 1 and 3. Due to this centrifugal force the air is continuously thrown out of and sucked into the groove and, in passing the membrane, produces a novel vibratory effect in addition to the vibrations caused by the rapid rotation of the toy. The result is an oscillating, whizzing sound which has been found to enhance the pleasure of the operator.

The groove 23' is here conveniently provided by forming the body 7 of two disks Z4 and 26 mounted in spaced relation on an axial shaft 27 to define the slot or groove 23 therebetween.

The ribbons 9 are arranged with their middle portions extending across the groove 23, the posts 19 and 21 Patented July 11, 1961 3 being screwed into the rimportions of the disks 24 and 26, as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

In operation, the handles 17 and 18 are grasped as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The body 7 is rotated to twist the cords together as by swinging in a narrow circle. The handles are then pulled apart and the unwinding cord imparts rapid rotation to the body.

Momentum causes this rotation to "continue past the unwound point and to wind up the cord in the opposite direct on, the outward pressure on the handles 17 and 18 being slaekened to permit the rewinding. When the rotation stops, resumptionof the outward pressure will cause the toy to spin in the opposite direction.

As the body 7 spins, the air is drawn in from the sides past the posts, and through the holes 13 and 14, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3 of'the drawing. The rapid edgewise movement of the ribbons 9 through these .air currents produces the novel and unique sound which makes the toy so attractive.

The radial currents of generated have considerable force. In fact, this force combined with centrifugal force is suflicient to cause the ribbons 9 to bow outwardly to the position indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3 as the toy spins. These currents have a further effect in fanning the face and chest of the operator to increase the pleasure derived from the operation of the toy.

I claim:

1. In a toy of the character described, a pair of spaced and parallel discs having an axial shaft connecting the same and having registering transverse holes on opposite sides of the shaztt, endless loop having spaced strands passing through said holes and operable 'for imparting rapid rotary motion to the discs, said strands being thinner than said holes so as to admit air therethrou'gh, pairs of postsprojecting outwardly from the rims of the discs in balanced relation, and a membrane supported by each pair of posts in spaced relation to said rims and parallel to the axis of rotation, and across the space between the discs and with its width tangent to the rotary course so as to create an audible tone and -a fanning action.

2. In a toy of the character described, a pair ofspaced and parallel discs having an axial shafit connecting the sameand having registering transverse holes on opposite slant sidewise in opposite directions to increase the spacing between their outer tips, ribbons of elastic material stretched between the outer tips of each pair of posts parallel to said shaft and across the spaces between the discs edgewise to their rotary course so as to create a combined audible sound and farming action, and elastic bandsadjustably securing the opposite ends of said ribbons to said posts, whereby the amount of tension on said ribbon may "be varied by forcing either of said ribhon ends toward or away from'said tips.

3. In a spinning toy of the character described, a shafit, a pair of discs mounted in spaced and parallel relation on said shaft tovdefine a narrow slot of uniform width therebetween, means for spinning said discs about the axis-of said shaft, means for expelling a current of airradially from said slot upon said spinning, and a resilient ribbon mounted in spaced relation to the rims of said discs and extending across said slot, with its width tangent to its rotary course, so as to vibrate in response to both the passage of said ribbon through the air around said shaft and to said current of air expelled from said slot and sons to create a combined audible sound and a tanning action.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,966 Money Feb. 4, 1913 1,434,910 Murph'cy Nov. 7,1922

2,525,221 Hinson Oct. 10, 1950 2,561,179 Carney et a1. July 17, 1961 2,608,025 -Mil1er Aug. 26, 1 952 FOREIGN PATENTS 326,717 Germany Sept. 12, 19119

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